PCRF triggered rules cleanup

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to a system and related method of handling a plurality of user messages originating from a user device in a communications network. Various embodiments relate to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) receiving an initial message from a first device, while anticipating a complementary message from a second device. Upon receipt of the complementary message, the PCRN may pair the messages and generate a rule from the paired message. If the PCRN does not receive the complementary message, the PCRN may generate the rule from only the initially-received message or may ignore the message. The PCRN may treat each received message independent from each other so that lack of receipt of a complementary message does not affect the creation of rules from another paired message.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method performed by a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) to handle a plurality of requests from a user device for service in a communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first gateway, a plurality of initial requests to establish a plurality of services for the user device; 
 creating a rule for each of the received initial requests in said plurality of initial requests; 
 waiting for a defined period to receive at least one complementary request from a second gateway, wherein each complementary request matches one of the received initial requests in the plurality of initial requests; 
 receiving, from the second gateway, at least one complementary request; 
 forming at least one paired request after the defined period by matching each of the at least one received complementary request with one of the plurality of received initial requests; and 
 removing each rule corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of received initial requests is greater in quantity than the plurality of complementary requests. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 signaling, upon the creation of the plurality of rules for each of the received initial requests, the first gateway to establish services for each of the plurality of received initial requests. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 removing each service established in the first gateway corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 signaling the first and second gateways to establish services for the at least one paired request. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gateways sending user requests comprise a device from a list of: a serving gateway, a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), and an Application Node (AN). 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether a subscriber for the user device only has access to known services; 
 abstaining from removing each rule corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request when the subscriber has access to unknown services; and 
 removing each rule corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request when the subscriber only has access to known services. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first gateway:
 receives a plurality of user requests from the user device; 
 generates the plurality of initial requests corresponding to the plurality of user requests, wherein the at least two initial requests comprise messages containing a session establishment request and identification information; and 
 transmits the at least two initial requests to the PCRN. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the identification information comprises a Session Binding Identifier (SBI) comprising a set of attributes, the attributes including at least one of:
 a session identification; 
 an IPv4 address; an IPv6 address; 
 an Access Point Name (APN); and 
 at least one subscriber identifier (SID); 
 wherein the attributes comprising the SBI also comprise attributes in at least one subscriber profile corresponding to the subscriber. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second gateway:
 receives a plurality of user requests from the user device; 
 generates the plurality of initial requests corresponding to the plurality of user requests, wherein the at least two initial requests comprise messages containing a session establishment request and identification information; and 
 transmits the at least two initial requests to the PCRN. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the identification comprises a Session Binding Identifier (SBI) comprising a set of attributes, the attributes including at least one of:
 a session identification; 
 an IPv4 address; an IPv6 address; 
 an Access Point Name (APN); and 
 at least one subscriber identifier (SID); 
 wherein the attributes comprising the SBI also comprise attributes in at least one subscriber profile corresponding to the subscriber. 
 
     
     
       12. A system for handling a plurality of requests from a user device for service in a communications network, the system comprising:
 a first gateway that, in response to a request for plurality of services by the user device, transmits a plurality of initial requests to establish the plurality of services for the user device; 
 a second gateway that transmits at least one complementary request to establish at least one service from the plurality of services for the user device, wherein the at least one complementary request matches at least one initial request from the plurality of requests; and 
 a Policy and Charging Rules Node (PCRN) that receives the plurality of initial requests and the at least one complementary request, wherein the PCRN:
 creates a rule for each of the plurality of initial requests received, 
 waits for a defined period to receive the complementary requests, 
 forms at least one paired request after the defined period by matching each of the at least one complementary request with one of the plurality of received initial requests; and 
 removes each rule corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of received initial requests is greater in quantity than the plurality of complementary requests. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the PCRN signals, upon the creation of the plurality of rules for each of the received initial requests, the first gateway to establish services for each of the plurality of received initial requests. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first gateway removes each service established corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the PCRN signals the first and second gateways to establish services the at least one paired request. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second gateways sending user requests comprise a device from a list of: a serving gateway, a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), and an Application Node (AN). 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the PCRN further:
 determines whether a subscriber for the user device only has access to known services; and 
 removes each rule corresponding to each received request that is not part of the at least one paired request when the subscriber only has access to known services. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first gateway further:
 receives a plurality of user requests from the user device; 
 generates the plurality of initial requests corresponding to the plurality of user requests, wherein the at least two initial requests comprise messages containing a session establishment request and identification information; and 
 transmits the at least two initial requests to the PCRN. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the identification information comprises a Session Binding Identifier (SBI) comprising a set of attributes, the attributes including at least one of:
 a session identification; 
 an IPv4 address; an IPv6 address; 
 an Access Point Name (APN); and 
 at least one subscriber identifier (SID); 
 wherein the attributes comprising the SBI also comprise attributes in at least one subscriber profile corresponding to the subscriber. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second gateway further:
 receives a plurality of user requests from the user device; 
 generates the plurality of initial requests corresponding to the plurality of user requests, wherein the at least two initial requests comprise messages containing a session establishment request and identification information; and 
 transmits the at least two initial requests to the PCRN. 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the identification information comprises a Session Binding Identifier (SBI) comprising a set of attributes, the attributes including at least one of:
 a session identification; 
 an IPv4 address; an IPv6 address; 
 an Access Point Name (APN); and 
 at least one subscriber identifier (SID); 
 wherein the attributes comprising the SBI also comprise attributes in at least one subscriber profile corresponding to the subscriber.